How far away is the epicenter if the P wave arrives 5 minutes before the S wave?

Question

i need help...i have a science reference table but im just stuck...thanxx

Answer 1

You will need to look at a standardized seismic wave chart. Find on the chart where the P wave line and the S wave line of 5 minutes apart based on whatever scale the graph is on. The look at the bottom (or top) and read the distance off.

For example, if on the wave chart each square was 1 minute then find where the P line and the S line are 5 squares apart.

Answer 2

The speed of P wave is about 13 to 17 k/m per second.It may vary according the density of the medium through which it travels. The speed of S wave is about half of the P wave.The difference in the speed is about 8 k/m per second and almost it is constant.So the distance of Epicenter will be from 5 X 60 x 8 =2400 K/m.